The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for much of southern and eastern Minnesota, including Mower County, until 10 p.m. tonight.

NWS meteorologists are calling for periodic showers and thunderstorms, some severe, throughout the afternoon, with showers and thunderstorms likely Friday evening before 9 p.m. There could be damaging gusts of wind and hail as well. There’s more than a 60 percent chance of precipitation in the Austin area, with rainfall amounts between a 1/10th and a quarter of an inch.

The Vision 2020 “Downtown Austin — Your Summer Destination” kickoff concert is expected to go on as planned according to Laura Helle, director of creative vision for Vision 2020. The concert starts at 5 p.m. and headliners Six Mile Grove will take the stage at 7 p.m.